Card game and gaming surface for playing a game

ABSTRACT

In at least one embodiment there is a card game wherein player begins by placing a Main wager. The dealer then deals one card face-up to each player, and one card face-down to the dealer position. The player must then choose to stand or double-down or place additional higher risk bets. For a higher risk bet, the player may also place a Dealer Ace, a Dealer Match—Same Rank Any Suit, and/or a Dealer Super Match wager. A Dealer Ace bet is the player betting that the dealer has an Ace, the payout is 10:1. With a Dealer Match Same Rank Any Suit bet, if the player has a card that is of the same rank as the dealer (for example the player is holding a Jack of clubs and the Dealer is holding a Jack of diamonds) then the payout is in the order of 10:1. If the dealer is holding a King and the player is holding a jack of any suit then the dealer wins the bet. With a Dealer Super Match bet, if the dealer is holding a Jack of clubs and the player is holding a Jack of Clubs, then the house pays out 50:1 on that bet.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/577,316 filed on Oct. 26, 2017, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a card game and gaming surface for playing a game. The gaming surface includes areas to place the cards and optional areas to place different kinds of bets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In at least one embodiment there is a card game played with a shoe of 6 or 8 standard 52-card decks, accommodating up to 6 player positions. The player begins by placing a Main wager. The dealer then deals one card face-up to each player, and one card face-down to the dealer position. The player must then choose to stand or double-down or place additional higher risk bets. If the player stands, no additional bets are placed by the player and the player waits for the dealer to flip or turn his or her card. If the player doubles down then this is simply a straight up doubling down on the initial bet. For a higher risk bet, the player may also place a Dealer Ace, a Dealer Match—Same Rank Any Suit, and/or a Dealer Super Match wager. A Dealer Ace bet is the player betting that the dealer has an Ace. With this bet, if the player wins on that bet the house pays out 10:1. With a Dealer Match Same Rank Any Suit bet, if the player has a card that is of the same rank as the dealer (for example the player is holding a Jack of clubs and the Dealer is holding a Jack of diamonds) then the payout is in the order of 10:1. If the dealer is holding a King and the player is holding a jack of any suit then the dealer wins the bet. With a Dealer Super Match bet, if the dealer is holding a Jack of clubs and the player is holding a Jack of Clubs, then the house pays out 50:1 on that bet. However, if the dealer is holding for example a Jack of Diamonds and the player is holding a Jack of Clubs, then the player loses because the two cards may be of the same rank but of a different suit.

For the main bet and for the bet involving doubling down, the player has to have a higher ranked card than the dealer to win. Therefore, if the player has a Jack and the dealer is holding a 10, then the player wins. However, if there is a tie, that is if the player is holding a Jack and the dealer is holding a Jack then the player loses both his main bet and the double down bet. If the player is holding a 10 card and the dealer is holding a Jack, then the player loses both his main be and the double down bet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which disclose at least one embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a second flow chart for the process for playing a second embodiment of the game; and

FIG. 2 is a view of another gaming surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows another flow chart for an improved game. With this process a player places a main wager in step 21. This main wager can be placed in the main wager region 61 66, 70, 76, or 80 on the gaming surface shown in FIG. 2. Next, in step 22, a dealer deals one card face up to each playing player. These cards for each player can be placed in the respective card regions 59, 64, 68, 78, or 82 on the gaming surface shown in FIG. 2. Next, in step 23, the dealer deals one card face down to himself (the dealer). This can be on a region of the playing surface 52. Next in step 24 a each player can either signal to the dealer that they will stand and place no additional bets, or the player can place additional bets. For example, if the player wishes to place additional bets the player can double down in step 24 b. In this step, the player can place an additional bet in their respective regions such as region 61 for the first player, region 66 for the second player, region 70 for the third player, region 76 for the fourth player, and region 80 for the fifth player (see FIG. 2).

Alternative higher risk higher reward bets may be placed as well. For example, the player may place a bet that the dealer is holding an Ace. In this case the player places a bet in their respective region. Each player region for placing these bets are denoted by areas 60, 67, 75, 81, and 87. Once the player inserts his or her bet in the form of a chip or other marker, into this region, this informs the dealer of the type of bet. If in the step of comparing hands, it is revealed the dealer is holding an Ace then the payout is 10:1.

An alternative bet in step 24D is that the player's card and the dealer's card match based upon rank. With this type of bet if the Dealer is holding a King of diamonds and the player is holding a King of hearts, then the player wins a 10:1 bet. This is because the cards are matched based upon rank (example: King-King; Jack-Jack) regardless of the suit. This type of bet can be placed by each of the players in regions 58, 65, 73, 79, and 85 respectively. If the two cards are of a different rank such that the Dealer is holding a 2 and the player is holding a King, then the player loses this particular bet, but the player would still win on their main bet or on their double down bet as well. This is because the player's card outranks the dealer's card.

Alternatively, in step 24E the player can bet that the dealer's card matches in number and in suit to the player's card which pays 50:1 (See region 56). These betting regions are also in areas 56, 63, 71, 77, and 83. Thus, if the Dealer is holding a Jack of Clubs and the player is holding a Jack of Clubs the house pays out 50:1. However if the dealer is holding a Jack of Diamonds and the player is holding a Jack of Clubs then the player loses his or her bet.

Next, once all of the wagers have been placed, the dealer then compares the hands of all of the players in step 26. Next, in step 27 the dealer resolves the wagers by either taking the player's bets if the player loses or paying out to all the winning players.

FIG. 2 is another embodiment of a gaming surface. With this design the new gaming surface 50 includes a main gaming area 52, a region to store chips 54 for the dealer. There is also a buffer region 55 which can contain indicia indicating the rules of the game. In addition, there are different gaming areas for each player. These gaming areas include a first gaming area for a first player 51, a second gaming area for a second player 62, a third gaming area for a third player 72, a fourth gaming area for a fourth player 74, and a fifth playing area for a fifth player 84. Additional playing areas can also be provided for additional players. For example, for each player there is a region to receive a card such as region 59. In addition, there is a region to place a double wager such as region 61. Furthermore, there are multiple regions to place different types of high yield bets. For example, there is a first region 60, 67, 75, 81, 87 which is for allowing the player to place a bet that the dealer is holding an ace wherein this bet pays out 10:1. Another region, 58, 65, 73, 79, and 85 allows the player to place a bet that the player has the same number or value card (same rank) as the dealer regardless of suit of the card, this bet pays out 10:1. Another region 56, 63, 71, 77, and 83 allows the player to place a bet that the player's card and the dealer's card match in both value and in suit. For example, for there to be a match the dealer would be holding a Jack of clubs and the player would be holding a Jack of Clubs. If the Dealer was holding a King of Clubs and the player was holding a Jack of Clubs then the cards would be of the same suit but of different value.

The order of value for the dealer from highest to lowest would be Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. The suits are spades, clubs, hearts, and diamonds as in a traditional set of cards, however different types or styles of cards can be used in alternative embodiments.

The following are values for payouts of the game.

TABLE 1 Payout on the Initial Wager Decks 6 8 Initial Wager 1 1 Average wager 1.38462 1.38462 Average win 1.31783 1.31677 RTP 95.18% 95.10% RTH 4.82% 4.90% HE per Initial Wager 6.68% 6.78%

TABLE 2 Payout on the Dealer Ace: Decks 6 8 Max RTP 86.27% 85.85% HE 13.73% 14.15% Min RTP 64.71% 69.76% HE 35.29% 30.24%

TABLE 3 Return Summary Dealer Match Decks 6 8 Max RTP 82.68% 83.17% HE 17.32% 16.83% Min RTP 64.71% 69.76% HE 35.29% 30.24%

TABLE 4 Return Summary Dealer Super Match Decks 6 8 Max RTP 83.33% 87.07% HE 16.67% 12.93% Average RTP 81.99% 86.02% HE 18.01% 13.98%

In the table, RTP represents the Return to Player, which is the ratio of Average Win to Average Wager. RTH represents the Return to House, also known as the Element of Risk, and is the expected house earnings scaled relative to the Average Wager. The HE is the traditional House Edge measurement, scaled relative to the Initial Wager. To achieve the optimal return on the Main wager, the player should double their wager whenever they have a nine or higher (not including Aces). For the Dealer Ace and Dealer Match—Same Rank Any Suit wagers, the exact returns are dependent on the cards dealt to the player(s) at the table. Probabilities were calculated under optimal and counter-optimal conditions, and then used to determine maximum and minimum RTP for these wagers.

Maximum RTP and Minimum RTP are both achieved in the 6 player case. For the Dealer Ace wager, the maximum occurs when no Aces are dealt to any player, and the minimum occurs when all players are dealt Aces.

For the Dealer Match—Same Rank Any Suit wager, the maximum is achieved when no other player is dealt the same rank as the wagering player, and the minimum occurs when all players are dealt the same rank. These represent the extreme possibilities for these wagers. On average, if the player places the wager consistently, the Dealer Ace wager will return 84.62% on either deck case. The Dealer Match—Same Rank Any Suit wager will average 81.35% to 82.17% in the 6 and 8 deck cases, respectively.

For the Dealer Super Match wager, the analysis was conducted under two sets of conditions. Optimal RTP occurs in the 6 player case, when no other player exactly matches the card of the wagering player. The average RTP was also calculated, assuming the player places the wager consistently.

Ultimately the resolution of one card double action is based upon the ranks of the player card and the dealer card. If a player has an Ace, this loses to any dealer card. If a dealer has an Ace this beats any player card. Otherwise with the main bet and the double down bet the hands are compared by rank in the usual way, if the ranks are the same (that is the same value on the card regardless of the suit, the dealer wins).

The main wager can include the doubling down as well and pays 1:1 if the player beats the dealer. Otherwise the wager loses. With respect to the dealer ace wager (see playing region 60). The dealer pays out 10:1 if the dealer has an ace. Otherwise the wager loses. With respect to the dealer match this is a match in value as indicated above this is respect to playing region 58. With respect to the Dealer Super Match, this wager pays 50:1 and this relates to player region 56.

Accordingly, while at least one embodiment of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for playing a game comprising the steps of: placing a main wager; dealing only one card to each player face up; dealing only one card to a dealer face down; allowing the player to either stand, double down on their initial bet or place at least one higher risk wager; comparing hands; resolving the wager by either collecting any wagers or paying out on any wagers wherein the payout to the player on the main wager is only if the player has a higher ranked card, if the player has a same or lower ranked card, the player loses the hand.
 2. The process as in claim 1, wherein said at least one higher risk wager comprises payouts ranging from 10:1 to 50:1.
 3. The process as in claim 1, wherein said at least one higher risk wager comprises the player betting that the dealer has an Ace wherein the payout to the player is in the order of 10:1.
 4. The process as in claim 1, wherein said at least one higher risk wager comprises the player betting that the dealer has a card of the same rank as the player, wherein the payout to the player if the player wins is in the order of 10:1.
 5. The process as in claim 1, wherein said at least one higher risk wager comprises the player betting that the dealer has a card of the same rank and same suit, wherein the payout to the player if the player wins is in the order of 50:1.
 6. A gaming surface comprising; a main playing surface; a region for each player to receive at least one card; a region for each player to place at least on initial bet; a region for each player to place a higher yield bet; a region for each player to bet that the dealer is holding an Ace; a region for each player to bet that the dealer is holding a card that matches the player's card rank; and a region for each player to bet that the dealer is holding a card that matches the player's card rank and suit.
 7. A gaming surface comprising; a main playing surface; a region for each player to receive at least one card; a region for each player to place at least on initial bet; a region for each player to place a higher yield bet.
 8. The gaming surface as in claim 7, wherein the region for each player to place a higher yield bet comprises a region for each player to bet that the dealer is holding an Ace.
 9. The gaming surface as in claim 8, wherein the region for each player to place a higher yield bet comprises a region for each player to bet that the dealer is holding a card that matches the player's card rank.
 10. The gaming surface as in claim 9, wherein the region for each player to place a higher yield bet comprises a region for each player to bet that the dealer is holding a card that matches the player's card rank and suit. 